
Jim Connolly
Chairman/Owner
Jim Connolly is the owner of Planet Turf. He has a degree in Agronomy from Washington State University and continued studies in Environmental Science from the University of Connecticut and graduate classes in Crop Science from Washington State University. He is a former agronomist for the United States Golf Association Green Section where he made over 600 golf course consulting visits. He is a Certified Professional Agronomist and has 36 years’ experience in the turf grass management field.
Riley Connolly
President
Riley graduated from Whitworth University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Asian Studies. He has been working in the golf industry since he was 15 years old and has experience in golf maintenance, hospitality, caddying, and day-to-day course operations. A short list of some the courses he has worked at includes The Golf Club at Black Rock, Spokane Country Club (now Kalispell CC), and The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course. As President, Riley supports our staff by overseeing all departments, helping team members set and achieve goals, maintaining vendor relationships, and working with the Planet Turf team to reach it’s company vision of becoming the go-to turfgrass solutions provider in the PNW and beyond. Riley began working at Planet Turf in September of 2016. He enjoys hiking with his wife and dog, playing hockey, golf, and whiskey.
Jared Whitaker
Vice President of Sales & Technical Support
Jared received his degree in Agronomy, with a major in Turfgrass Science from Washington State University. He has worked at renowned golf courses throughout the US and gained valuable hands-on experience. Jared has worked at Riviera Golf Club, Atlantic City Golf Club, Spokane Country Club, Sonoma Golf Club and most recently at Huntsman Springs Golf Club in Driggs, Idaho.
Anders Edling
Manager of Purchasing and Operations
Anders graduated from the University of Idaho in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Anders is responsible for inventory control, purchasing, shipping and logistics, coordinating Planet Turf truck routes for local deliveries, and ensuring orders are shipped and delivered in a timely manner and according to customer instructions. He last worked as a field supervisor for International Directional Services, and prior to that, Stellar Industrial supply. This included managing survey technicians and directional drilling projects in Nevada, Colorado, and Arizona, coordinating projects, and helping set up inventory management systems for large scale customers. He enjoys spending time with his wife or playing hockey and golf.
Jordan Anderson
Regional Sales Representative, INW Golf & Landscape Services
Jordan services customers in a variety of industries from landscape turf management, to parks, schools, and golf courses. He loves working with customers to solve problems and offer economical and effective solutions for all things related to turfgrass and landscape management. Jordan has an Associate’s Degree in Diesel and Heavy Equipment Service and Repair from Spokane Community College, and lives in Spokane with his wife and two children.
Aaron Stamper
Regional Sales Representative, Western Washington, Oregon, and Central Oregon
Aaron graduated from Walla Walla Community College with a degree in Turf Management. He has over 20 years’ experience in the turfgrass industry and worked at prestigious golf courses such as Riviera Country Club, Sonoma Golf Club, and Spokane Country Club. Most recently Aaron was golf course superintendent at Skamania Lodge Golf Course in Stevenson, WA.
Shane Hughes
Regional Sales Representative, Southeastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Idaho
Shane completed degrees from Washington State University and Walla Walla Community College. Both fields of study were in Turfgrass Management. He has 15 years of golf course experience, from native soil to established turf. Notable properties Shane worked on include The Club at Black Rock, Palouse Ridge Golf Club and Meadow Springs Country Club. He supports numerous industry associations, currently holds Board positions on the Inland Empire GCSA and the Northwest Turfgrass Association and was a 2022 GCSAA Melrose Leadership Academy recipient. Shane enjoys assisting customers as they work towards and achieve their goals through great products and support services. He was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and currently resides in Richland with his wife and daughter. For fun Shane enjoys bike rides with his daughter, wine tourism with his winemaking wife and drives in his 1975 Datsun 280Z.
Amy Connolly
Vice President, Administration
Amy Connolly cofounded James Connolly Consulting, LTD with her husband Jim Connolly in 1999. As the business of consulting branched into sales and marketing with Planet Turf she took on the role of Office Administrator and Accounts Manager. Amy continues to serve as Vice President and Senior Advisor for Planet Turf and James Connolly Consulting.
Danielle Hunt
General Bookkeeper